2025.06.20 - When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground

For a few years now, my wife and I have given each other a season pass to a local theatre company's productions as a Christmas present. That's where we recently saw "Finding Neverland". I wasn't sure what to think about this one going in, because I really didn't care for the Johnny Depp film (this isn't the time or place to unpack the pathology of WHY), but our daughter was a big fan so I tried to be positive about it. It says a lot about my feelings about the show that this song, which appears at the climax of the show, made its way into my mental rotation of songs that I wake up in the morning with. Much like the boy Peter in this show, I had to grow up quickly when I was very, very young - although for dramatically different reasons - and there are still things that haunt me sometimes about that phase of my life. This song really brought a lot of those back into the light and made them heal just a little bit more. I realize I'm probably alone in this, but I think naming the production after that terrible movie was a huge mistake for the musical. It's genuinely wonderful.

2024.NOV.05 - Life's a Happy Song!

My wife asked me to start writing these again, so here we go.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved The Muppets. The characters from Seasame Street and Mr. Rodgers were the only reliable things from my childhood, and I can still vividly recall the details of many episodes of each.

In 2011, I was very nervous about the new movie, _The Muppets_, as we took our kids to see it. I didn't know Jason Segel's body of work very well, but my perception of him at the time was that he was a poor man's Vince Vaughn (which…is saying something).

I couldn't possibly have been more wrong about it. What a joyous celebration it was of what made the Muppets such a major factor in the lives of SO MANY PEOPLE.

And nothing could have been done better to settle my fears than the opening number, _Life's a Happy Song_. That is why it remains to this day one of my choices for a morning alarm. Which is probably why it's a frequent repeater for the Song of the Day.

Life's a happy song…

YES. IT IS.

I have a dream...

I hope will come true That you're here with me And I'm here with you. I pray that the Earth, Sea And Sky up above Will send me someone to "lava" (love)

For years, my favorite Pixar short has been the cowboy poetry laden "Boundin'," but ever since watching Inside Out, it has been replaced by this cute, hartwarming, pun-filled treasure.

Now my wife and I love to tell each other (and our children) "I lava you."

Plus - ukulele, man. What's NOT to "lava?"

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

Well, he was fueled by a lack

Drew inspiration from a need; So many problems to crack, and mouths to feed. Crooked was the path, and brazen was the walk; A cocky swagger up the ladder - and could he ever talk!

Always enjoy the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and this one is one of their peppiest. It's fun to belt out "it's the last round; A-AH! Do it again!"

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

Your little piece of heaven turns to dark

Listen to your heart when he's calling for you. Listen to your heart there's nothing else you can do. I don't know where you're going and I don't know why, but listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye.

Not sure why this one. I like Roxette well enough, but I can't even think of the last time I heard this song, and it doesn't seem to be apropos of anything in particular.

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

Believe it or Not

I'm walking on air I never thought I could feel so free Flying away on a wing and a prayer Who could it be? Believe it or not it's just me.

Things didn't go so well for me the other day; even my wife knew, when she heard me singing this one, that it was more in defiance of my internal struggles rather than a celebration of my own status as someone who is "walking on air."

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

(Overdue #7: 2015-05-11) One boy, one girl...

two hearts beating wildly. To put it mildly, it was love at first sight.

This is one my wife taught me to appreciate. I really enjoy the way the chorus takes a little twist right there at the end; the meaning becoming so much more. This is a thing I notice a lot more in country music than in most other kinds of music, and I expect that (now that I've called it out here) some of those other songs will leak into my brain in the coming mornings.

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

You can fall for pretty strangers

and the promises they hold You promised me everything you promised me thick and thin, yeah. Now you just say, "Oh, Romeo, yeah; you know, I used to have a scene with him."

Such a sad one...I never had any sympathy for the characters of Romeo and Juliet, but I feel bad for this guy.

Also, I had never seen that music video before. That is an ODD one, is it not?.

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

(Overdue #6: 2015-05-08) You're playing with the Big Boys now

Playing with the big boys now Ev'ry spell and gesture Tells you who's the best, you're Playing with the big boys now

With all the good songs in the movie The Prince of Egypt, I'm not not sure why this one came into my head. Shrug.

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

Here I stand

In the light of day; let the storm rage on! The cold never bothered me anyway.

Well, let's be honest - it was only a matter of time until THIS ONE popped up. Still, even with the gross over-saturation, it's a well-written (and well-performed) song.

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

(Overdue #5: 2015-04-26) It's a cruel, cruel summer

Leaving me here on my own It's a cruel, cruel summer Now you're gone…

The Awesome '80's…I heard somewhere once that the term "nostalgia" means "pain from an old wound."

Listen to it on on Spotify.

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Shoobie doo; dabba dah; dooba dooh; dabba dada doo-dah

Shoobie doo; dabba dah; dooba dooh; dabba dada doo-doo-dah Shoobie doo; dabba dah; dooba dooh; dabba dada doo-dah Dooo bop, she do.

Not entirely certain I've transcribed those lyrics correctly, but MAN, this is a fun one!

I can't even think of the last time I heard this one, so no idea how it ended up in my head today; but I had some fun bopping around the house this morning getting it stuck in my children's heads.

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

A triangle trying to squeeze through a circle

He tried to cut me so I'd fit And doesn't that sound familiar? Doesn't that hit too close to home? Doesn't that make you shiver, the way things could have gone? And doesn't that feel peculiar When everyone wants a little more And so that I do remember To never go that far Could you leave me with the scar?

I like this one; for being at its heart an angry, bitter relationship song, it really bounces and is quite cheerful in tone. That dissonance pleases me, in a way that I can't quite quantify.

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

Black Hole Sun

Won't you come And wash away the rain Black hole sun Won't you come Won't you come?

I LOVE downbeat or acoustic covers of songs, and the more dramatic the shift, the more I enjoy it.

So, when I first heard this Nouela cover of the Soundgarden classic "Black Hole Sun," it totally re-invigorated my interest in this 90's "classic."

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

Travelling in a fried-out Kombi

on a hippie trail head full of zombie I met a strange lady She made me nervous She took me in and gave me breakfast And she said Do you come from a land down under?

Been a rough month. I haven't had many songs in my head...

Although I do have two posts I owe you all from last week - I was just too busy to get them posted. Hopefully today.

Regardless, we're back in full swing with some Men At Work.

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

A Legend is Sung

Of when England was young And Knights were brave, and bold! The good King had died and no one could decide who was rightful heir to the throne… It seemed that the land Would be torn by war Or saved by a Miracle alone And that Miracle appeared In London-town… The Sword in the Stone.

I'm actually surprised I managed to find this one at all - but no luck on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube (while you can):

I see seven towers

But I only see one way out You've got to cry without weeping Talk without speaking Scream without raising your voice You know I took the poison From the poison stream Then I floated out of here…

This remains my favorite U2 song of all time. That is all. Enjoy it.

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

When your dreams all fail

And the ones we hail Are the worst of all And the blood’s run stale…

I got to hear Imagine Dragons in concert on Wednesday. It was a pretty good show, if about 30 decibels too loud for me.

I guess that means I'm officially an old man now?

Listen to it on on Spotify.

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One day more…

Another day, another destiny This never-ending road to Calvary…

It's been largely quiet upstairs this week in the music department, I think largely because I have been waking up hours earlier than usual; however, that should end after today – which naturally led me to wake up singing this great showpiece from Les Miserables.

My wife says that this one is actually pretty common – but, in her defense, she was pretty sleepy this morning when I headed out.

:)

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

So anytime you're feeling low…

…instead of letting go Just remember that ant Oops there goes another rubber tree plant

Ah, Frank.

When I shared this one with my wife this morning, she told me she didn't even know there were verses to it, as she only knew it from The Goofy Movie.

I mean, sure, The Goofy Movie is great, but this is CLASSIC FRANK!

*sigh*

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube: